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Oman organizes API 653 training in Belgium

03/12/2015

Saji E. Joseph and Biju C. Varghese, our colleagues from AIB-Vinçotte International & Partners LLC in Oman, visited Belgium from the 8th till the 16th of June. Their visit had a special purpose, since they came to our country to give an API 653 training to quite an impressive group of inspectors. No less than two Dutch, three Algerian and seven Belgian inspectors participated in this seven-day course. Thanks to this API 653 training, the inspectors will be well prepared to take the exam and when successful, they will be permitted to inspect the above ground storage tanks of our clients. By being able to present the API 653 certification, they will also respond to the increasing safety and quality requirements our clients have.

The API 653 certification is being issued by the American Petroleum Institute: a national trade association that represents all aspects of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Even though it’s an American trade association, its influence is recognized worldwide. Luckily, our inspectors won’t have to go all the way to America and will be able take the exam in France, Belgium or the Netherlands.

Our inspectors’ chances of success increased proportionally thanks to the help of Saji and Biju. In the recent past, AIB-Vinçotte International & Partners LLC has concluded major contracts with the Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) Company, the most important crude oil producer of the Sultanate. Because of those contracts, Saji and Biju are very experienced in giving the API 653 course. They have done so many times for their clients, which include well renowned Fertilizers, Refinery and Petrochemicals companies. This time, however, is the first time they give the course outside of Oman. Since the course would benefit the parent company Vinçotte itself, Saji and Biju were happy to do the extra work.

Saji tells us: “The inspectors are great students, willing to put in lots of efforts in this seven-day course. We are happy to help them and should they have any other questions, they’ll still be able to reach us by e-mail or by phone. We’ll also keep them engaged until the actual exam by sending them extra questions by e-mail”.

We would like to thank Saji and Biju for all their efforts and we wish the best of luck to all of our inspectors!

No less than twelve inspectors participated in a seven-day API 653 course, given by our colleagues Saji and Biju from Oman.